1968 Pontiac Firebird 4x4

Thanks to our friends at Four Wheeler magazine, we now know what 4x4 adventurers like to do with classic Pontiacs. Case in point, this 1968 Pontiac Firebird coupe, which has gone from late-’60s-stock cool to 21st century off-road regal royalty.

Amazingly, according to its owner, this First-Gen Firebird still retains its Fisher body panels, an F-body subframe, and unibody construction.
Here’s what we didn’t know about the 1968 Pontiac Firebird 4x4 hobby (Maybe you already knew!):

• An International 345ci V-8 and a Chrysler 727 transmission can substitute as a powertrain if you can’t find a correct Pure-Pontiac 350 or 400 and a Turbo 400. (Look at the bright side. The owner didn’t bolt up a Chevy small-block.)

• To be a “true muscle car,” your Firebird must be able to “run with Corvettes on the highway and outclimb rockcrawlers that come in on trailers.” These quotes are directly from this Firebird’s owner, not from us.

Now we know you’re running out to your garage and suspiciously eyeing your concours Pontiac Firebird, Trans Am, or GTO. We can see you wanting to ask the question … we mean really wanting to ask the question: “What it will take to transform my classic Pontiac into a canyon-climbing ‘car’-nivore?”

So what do you say, Pontiac fans? Are you ready to shift the gearcase into action?

2/2The Firebird hobby is looking up…literally. What type of fan would convert a 1968 Firebird into a 4x4? Brian Moses of Wichita, Kansas, this is your cue to raise your hand, take a bow, or run fast. Look at the good news, Pontiac fans—as least it’s not painted Verdoro Green.